Shikhar Dhawan Says Goodbye to Cricket
Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan officially announced his retirement from both domestic and international cricket on Saturday, August 24. The 38-year-old veteran, who last represented India during the ODI series against Bangladesh in December 2022, decided to step away from the sport after losing his place in the team to rising star Shubman Gill. Dhawan shared an emotional video on his social media platforms, expressing his gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support throughout his illustrious career.
Born in Delhi, Dhawan made his international debut against Australia in an ODI at Visakhapatnam. Unfortunately, his career had a rocky start as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck. Despite this setback, Dhawan made a remarkable comeback in 2013, securing his spot in the Indian team across all formats with consistent and outstanding performances.
In his farewell message, Dhawan reflected on his journey: “My lifelong dream was to play for India, and I am proud to have achieved it, thanks to the support of so many people. My family, my childhood coaches Tarak Sinha and Madan Sharma, who guided me in the early years of my cricketing career, and my teammates who became like a second family to me. As I turn the page on this chapter, I want to announce my retirement from international and domestic cricket.”
He added, “As I bid farewell to my cricketing journey, I do so with immense satisfaction, knowing that I have given my all for my country. I am deeply grateful to the BCCI and DDCA for the opportunities they provided me and to all the fans who stood by me. Instead of feeling sad about no longer playing for India, I choose to celebrate the fact that I had the privilege to represent my country. That is my greatest achievement.”
Dhawan’s career was marked by numerous milestones, including a record-breaking Test debut on March 16, 2013, where he scored the fastest century by a debutant, reaching the landmark in just 85 balls. He also claimed the prestigious ‘Golden Bat’ for being the highest run-scorer in the 2013 and 2017 editions of the ICC Champions Trophy. Nicknamed ‘Mr. ICC’ for his stellar performances in ICC tournaments, Dhawan was India’s leading run-scorer in the 2015 ODI World Cup. Over his career, he played 167 ODIs, amassing 6793 runs at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35, with 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries to his name.
In T20 Internationals, Dhawan played 68 matches, scoring 1759 runs at an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 126.36, including 11 fifties. He also featured in 34 Test matches, accumulating 2315 runs at an average of 40.61, with seven centuries and five fifties. Although Dhawan has retired from international and domestic cricket, he will continue to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
